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How to train your paving crew
Training key to preparing operators of asphalt pavers and compactors.
Compactors offer another set of techniques operators need to learn. Ingersoll Rand's Peter Fleming says to start training by introducing the concepts behind the machines, then move to put those concepts into practice. Workers should understand the purpose of compaction and the importance of achieving density at the right material temperature. He says it's important to teach students the difference between frequency and amplitude of the vibration and how the incorrect rolling speed can ruin the mat laid be the paver. "After they have that down, show them how to steer in a straight line and how to stop the roller at an angle and in such a position as to be ready to reverse without turning the drums when stationary on the asphalt, and then move on to practice the variety of rolling patterns that may be applied." Fleming says, "The best way to teach all that is to let the workers get in the seat and operate the rollers."
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"I think the industry will have to make working in asphalt more attractive to entice younger workers into the business," says Fleming. "There needs to be a career path for those who want it and are sufficiently intelligent to take it. Young people don't want to think they will be just shoveling asphalt for the rest of their lives. If they can see there are career paths and that maybe one day they can become a foreman, supervisor, superintendent, or even own their own company, it may attract them to the industry."
He says workers need to know that part of their job and training is to pay attention on each job to everything going on throughout the jobsite. "If you have an employee who is doing that, then he's a person to keep an eye on and to develop," Fleming says.
He says the basic path to promotion should be from hand tools to support equipment such as saws, sweepers, skid steers, or tack coat sprayer.
"This should be after they become proficient with tools, have had a good chance to watch how the equipment and team works together, and demonstrates a willingness to advance and assume more responsibility," Fleming says.
Proficiency = promotion
He says the next step, once they become proficient with support equipment, is to become the screed man or paver operator.
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